Protocol 41 facts for kids
Protocol 41 is a special set of rules, called a communication protocol, that helps computers talk to each other on the internet. Think of it like a secret tunnel! It takes newer internet messages, known as IPv6 packets, and hides them inside older internet messages, called IPv4 packets.
This "tunneling" trick is super useful. It lets computers or internet routers that only have an IPv4 address still connect to and use the newer IPv6 internet. Many companies that offer IPv6 tunnels, like Hurricane Electric, use Protocol 41 to make this happen.
You might hear about things like 6to4, 6rd, and 6in4. These are all different ways that Protocol 41 is used to create these internet tunnels. It's important to know that Protocol 41 itself doesn't use common internet services like TCP or UDP. However, the IPv6 messages it carries inside can definitely use TCP and UDP! Also, don't mix it up with something called "TCP or UDP port number 41" – they are completely different.
What is 6to4?
6to4 is a specific way to use Protocol 41. It's like a special address system for the internet. A 6to4 address always begins with the numbers 2002. After that, it includes the IPv4 address of the router that's sending the messages.
For example, a 6to4 address might look something like this: 2002:CB00:71FF:0:fe64:3486:d398:3346
Related Topics
